Tuesday, August 22, 2006

The Mystery of Iniquity

II Thess.2:7 - For the mystery of iniquity doth already work...

In 1973 a small water valve at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant became stuck and the water that was supposed to keep the nuclear core from overheating drained out. As the technicians watched the instruments show the increasing temperature, they became convinced it was a sensor malfunction. They had wrongly assumed that the core was still immersed in cooling water when in fact it was completely exposed. Only hours before a complete catastrophic core meltdown occurred was the problem fixed. This world is rapidly reaching a Spiritual meltdown. The Bible clearly identifies many signs as we reach the end, but we seem to be ignoring the warnings and trusting the worldly instrument panels. The frog in the pot is boiling and the devil is telling him that the heat is God's blessing. Over thousands of years iniquity has morphed into a many pronged, organized assault that is now, according to the Scriptures, accelerating its attack being well aware of the coming end. Evil is conducting a demonic "Aurora Borealis" that has the entire world cluelessly transfixed. Spiritual deception isn't coming, it is here world wide. There is an amazing spread of Islam, Europe is engulfed with humanism, South America is steeped in Roman Catholicism, Asia is caught in oriental mysticism, Africa is mostly unreached, and the western church continues to push the snooze button with every alarm. The man of sin, the antichrist, probably works behind the scenes already. Think about it, what does the entire world long for? Money. You can kill 6 million Jews and normal people will look the other way as long as the economy flourishes. You can kill 25 million unborn babies and once a year in January we'll have a "lifeday", but if we all lost our jobs we would storm Washington. With the western church now believing that God wants to shower everyone with material "blessings", we have entered into a deception that is an incubator for the final, global delusion that will deceive the entire world, save a small remnant. And the voices of correction measure their volume with whispers while the falling church world is deafening. Iniquity is a violent Spiritual weapon that finds it's way through every country, every culture, every home, every church, and ultimately into every heart. If those of us who have been delivered by God's blood only knew the extent of "so great salvation" as provided by the Son of God we would be immobilized to worship constantly. This is not some board game. Those of us who believe that Jesus will take His church out of this world before the Great Tribulation period begins have preached it so exclusively that we no longer feel any danger approaching all around us. What if we are wrong? When will we start a prayer life, when the antichrist rules the world? When he confiscates all our possessions and money, will we then wish we had used them for the furtherance of God's Kingdom? Today's prophets will not warn us, they are telling us "uplifting" things, and we like to have it so. We don't like bad news, even if it is truth. Remember, we're Americans and nobody tells us what to do!

But with time running short, there is good news that should propel us to dwell under the shadow of the Almighty!

Like a spiral staircase cascading downward, time is carrying us constantly closer to the end, and yet the brilliant beginning of an unfolding glory that cannot even be imagined. A shadow here and a silhouette there, the things that our Savior has prepared for us go far beyond the realm of human intellect. If all the pleasures, and all the miracles, and all the blessings, of all God's people here on earth were recreated in a single moment, not only would it not compare, it will not even be worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. The Creator of the universe is going to glorify us with His glory and make us like Him. We can't even describe what His glory really is because no man has seen God and lived. Our wildest imagination is a poor looking glass into the supernatural reality which will unveil the Risen Christ in all His resurrected Majesty - right before us all. To bow, to weep, to praise, to sing, to gasp, to gaze, to thank, to prostrate, and to wholly, without any distraction, worship the King. When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai he had to wear a veil over his face because of the residual glory of God. The Word declares that when God released Israel from captivity they "were like them that dreamed". When Solomon dedicated the Temple the priests could not stand up because of the glory of God. Paul proclaims that the glory of God is in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we who struggle to have our own way; we who spend most of our day seeking our will; we who look for and plan ahead for our pleasures; we who have sinned against the God who saved us; we who "set aside" a little time with Him and hope He appreciates it; we who pass people daily for whom Jesus died and say not a word;

Yes we, by the unsearchable depth of God's grace -WE WILL SEE HIS FACE IN ALL HIS GLORY!!!!

Eternal praise to Jesus, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.

7 comments:

Compelling post which causes me to sing with renewed appreciation..."A mighty fortress is our God,A bulwark never failing; Our helper He amid the floodOf mortal ills prevailing.For still our ancient foeDoth seek to work us woe--He craft and pow'r are great,And armed with cruel hate,On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,Our striving would be losing,Were not the right man on our side,The man of God's own choosing.Dost ask who that may be?Christ Jesus, it is He--Lord Sabaoth His name,From age to age the same,And He must win the battle."

Interesting and insightful. Funny thing is, I'm reading Steve Gallager's book, At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry" and chapter 11 (Separating from the World) of that book says much the same thing.

One quote: "We (Americans) have become so enslaved to maintaining a life of comfort that we are spiritually lethargic. ... Instead of affecting the world around us for the cause of Christ, we have allowed this world's system to influence us. Consequently, we are spiritually unfit for war; we have become spiritually fat and lazy."

I think the USA is a picture of rich man who loved his stuff too much and was unwilling to follow Christ.

And giving 90% of our wages to a "seeker sensitive" church is NOT the right antidote to this condition.

So many things have been revealed to me by the Holy Spirit, it's amazing. Not being taught by man, only by the Holy Spirit in Christ's name. I am being reminded of dreams I had over 10 yrs ago which at the time of those dreams were quite strange, but NOW, they are making sense. I have always felt deep in my heart that I didn't belong in this world. Ever since my heart attack (which is on my post), I am having disturbing dreams of seeing dead bodies lying in the streets, buildings being destroyed, food and & water are hard to come by, it's frightening to dream those dreams, but I am not afraid in the least. I pray for the day he returns. I really like your post and hope that more people will see it. I will try to spread the word.

Convicting post, Rick. Thank you! Nothing we do is worthy it is all dirty rags. Remember when I told you that story about people at work inviting me to go with them to the bar and I was confused as to why they would and then didn't talk to them about Jesus? Well, I have invited someone from work to church this coming Sunday and ask that I say the right things to her and that God works in her heart through the message that will be given. I love this post! It shows just how unprepared we are for tribulations. I don't believe that God is going to wisk us away before persecution starts. We better start getting prepared now. I know I better! I don't even do as well as I should in the good days much less in the hard days. Thank you for this post and for keeping us on our spiritual toes!

Here are some words to consider, of which I hope will be instructive to you and others, for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." II Thessalonians 2:3, 4

"The Pope is of so great dignity, and so exalted that he is not a mere man, but as it were God, and the vicar of God." Ferraris Ecclesiastical dictionary

"All names which in the Scriptures are applied to Christ, by virtue of which it is established that He is over the church, all the same names are applied to the Pope." On the Authority of the Councils, book 2, chapter 17

"The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in Heaven and earth." Pope Pius V, quoted in Barclay, Chapter XXVII, p. 218, "Cities Petrus Bertanous".

"...the Pope is as it were God on earth, sole sovereign of the faithful of Christ, chief of kings, having plenitude of power." Lucius Ferraris

"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." II Corinthians 11:13-15

"The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the Pope has supreme and full power in faith, in morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true vicar, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians. He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by no one, God himself on earth." Quoted in the New York Catechism.

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8

These words are written in the Roman Canon Law 1685: "To believe that our Lord God the Pope has not the power to decree as he is decreed, is to be deemed heretical."

'Father' A. Pereira says: "It is quite certain that Popes have never approved or rejected this title 'Lord God the Pope,' for the passage in the gloss referred to appears in the edition of the Canon Law published in Rome in 1580 by Gregory XIII."

"And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Revelation 13:6

Writers on the Canon Law say, "The Pope and God are the same, so he has all power in heaven and earth."

"The Pope is not only the representative of Jesus Christ, he is Jesus Christ himself, hidden under the veil of flesh." Catholic National, July 1895

This is but a 'drop in the bucket' as to what information is out there that confirms the prophetic scriptures, that the 'little horn', the 'beast', the 'man of sin', the 'son of perdition' and the 'Antichrist' are none other than the Pope of Rome (a successive reign) throughout history.

Behold the 'mystery of iniquity' which has clouded the minds of the entire world, that Almighty God's worst enemy upon the earth is lauded, praised and venerated [worshipped] by secular and 'Christian' leaders alike!

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Communication

Additional communications to me may be e-mailed to spcrick@msn.com. Any negative e-mails will be deleted without response, however sincere questions will be answered. I seek edification and deeper knowledge of Christ and His truth not a destructive and meaningless religious chatter. May God's Spirit open all of our hearts to Him.

About Me

I am an ordained Baptist minister but more importantly I am a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. I was saved in 1975 watching Billy Graham on television after having lived a wicked and Christless life. I graduated with a three year degree from Trinity Bible College in Dunedin, Florida. I have three children, two grandsons, and one granddaughter. I not only see the obvious falling away of the present day church, but I humbly acknowledge that we all are in desperate need of a massive revival. I hope this blog ministers to you, and may Jesus Himself receive all the preeminence!
spcrick@msn.com